Chief Edward Savage inflated arrest numbers, report claims

A selectmen’s investigation that prompted former police Chief Edward Savage’s resignation concluded that the chief altered crime statistics for seven years to make his performance look better, The Patriot Ledger reported.

The outside report that selectmen released late Wednesday says the crime statistics Savage submitted for annual town reports showed “a discernible pattern” of inflated statistics back to 2005.

By claiming increases in arrests and other activity when they were actually declining, “there is no question that Chief Savage provided inaccurate and misleading information,” the report says.

Selectmen ordered the investigation in June, after receiving an anonymous letter with the charges. APD Management of Tewksbury conducted the investigation. Savage resigned in October, after 10 years as chief.

The report also says Savage violated state and town conflict of interest rules by asking other officers to help him with college course work that would give him extra pay.

While the report says Savage probably didn’t influence the outcome of a Whitman-Hanson High School bullying case, it says the chief did use poor judgment and left “the appearance of impropriety,” because Savage acknowledged that the father of one of the students involved in the episode is a good friend.

The report is redacted to remove names of persons involved in the investigation, but it does describe one of the parents as “a local police chief.”

The investigation also concluded that Savage allowed a private mechanic to do work on cars at the police station, including a car Savage owned.